Donald Ray Carlsen

Don was born on February 24, 1952, in Denver, Colorado to Donald and Gwen Carlsen.  He spent his childhood years in Denver and Littleton.  After attending Mesa College, Don went on to an accomplished and successful career as an interior designer, custom furniture designer, and woodworker. 

Don married the love of his life, Kelly, on December 22, 1976.  They welcomed their daughter, Casey, on September 20, 1979, and then the little Carlsen trio started their journey.  Casey’s husband Taylor was added to the clan in 2000, impressing Don right away by laughing hard at a dirty joke but, more importantly, by how well he treated Casey. 

In his work, every corner of every room he designed was considered and all the pieces of furniture he made were made with true love and thoughtfulness for the recipient, from the stain color to the screws and nails.  Don loved music and his baritone voice would fill the house from his workshop, especially Broadway showtunes.  He shared his love of music with his family and especially with his daughter, who has a lifetime of memories of singing all the way through the countless soundtracks with him. 

Don was kind, humble, sensitive, generous, forgiving, curious, smart, compassionate, sincere, authentic, fair, charming, and clever.  He was a great flirt, had an unparalleled sense of style and taste, and fundamentally believed that all people are good.  He loved his family deeply and taught us that friends can be family and valued his friends profoundly.  Most memorably, Don could tell a joke like no other.  He made people laugh—and more often blush—in a way that no one else could. 

Importantly, Don was a spiritual man but believed that a church is not what connects us to God, but instead, it is our love for one another that does.  One of his favorite quotes and sentiments to share was “to love another person is to see the face of God,” attributable to one of his all-time favorite characters, Jean Valjean, in Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables.

Don is survived by his wife Kelly Carlsen, daughter Casey Williams, son in law Taylor Williams, mother, Gwen Carlsen, two brothers, Jack Carlsen (Lisa) and Robin Carlsen (Denise), two nephews Ky Carlsen (Courtney) and Roy Carlsen, and two nieces Stefanie Carlsen (Fede) and Carly Carlsen (Adrian). 

Memorial Service and Reception Information:

*Don told many of us that he did not want a funeral.  However, after we convinced him that people would in fact come and it is important for those left behind, he planned this event, including this invitation, with Kelly, Casey, and Taylor (even the church part!)*

Please join Kelly, Casey, and Taylor on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, to honor Don.  A church service will be held at 11:00 a.m. at Park Hill Methodist Church in Denver followed by a fun reception at 1:00 p.m. at the Knolls Clubhouse in Centennial (addresses below).

For the reception—and even the church service if you want to—please dress comfortably and Don specifically requested shorts and flipflops.  There is a locker room at the Clubhouse if you want change there.  Please bring at a camping chair (and some extras if you can) and be ready to enjoy great food, drinks, and music to make a final toast to Don.  If you are only able to make the church service or the reception, Don would want you to choose the reception!

Park Hill United Methodist Church, 5209 Montview Blvd., Denver, CO 80207

Knolls Clubhouse, 3400 E. Geddes Dr., Centennial, CO 80122

In lieu of flowers, please strongly consider a donation to the Denver Health MAID Clinic or any organization that supports a healthy future for our democracy. 

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